Hair - Is It A Yardstick For Diabetes

[Otis Mack]

http://www.ijtrichology.com/article...ume=3;issue=2;spage=131;epage=131;aulast=Gude


Significant rate of hair loss may reflect impaired glycemic control.

Poor circulation affecting the production of new strands or filaments resulting in thinner and sparsely located hairs, effects of antidiabetic drugs, physiological and psychological stress and anxiety, dehydration etc are some of the factors that are responsible for increasing hair loss in diabetics.

A French study on 6,00,000 people apparently unaware of the fact that they are suffering from type 2 diabetes showed that they had diffuse hair loss. [1]


A study showed that diabetic female children had smaller bulb diameters and diabetics of both sexes had reduced shaft diameters compared to normal children. [3] Darker eyebrows with graying scalp hair in males may also point to diabetes.

Diabetics are known to have elevated hair K, Na, Hg and decreased Ca, Mg, Zn. [4] Glucose intolerance is also known to perturb Cr metabolism. Hair arsenic has shown a bearing over glycemic control in pregnant subjects. [5]

 

[Timii]

Adopting a healthy lifestyle has never helped anyone as far as I know

 

[Xander94]

Ppl with diabetes have diffuse hair loss doesnt mean all people with diffuse loss have diabetes.

Simple logic too hard for people in this forum...

 

[Feelsbadman.jpg]

Ppl with diabetes have diffuse hair loss doesnt mean all people with diffuse loss have diabetes.

Simple logic too hard for people in this forum...

If you have diffuse thinning, then you have type 2 diabetes/insulin resistance to some degree. That is what the research is pointing at. Hair is basically genetic advertising for metabolic health/competency.

 

[Feelsbadman.jpg]

Adopting a healthy lifestyle has never helped anyone as far as I know

It's not this simple. That will help but some people are strongly prone to metabolic syndrome genetically.

 

[Xander94]

If you have diffuse thinning, then you have type 2 diabetes/insulin resistance to some degree. That is what the research is pointing at. Hair is basically genetic advertising for metabolic health/competency.

all blonde men are white doesnt mean all white men are blonde.

 

[Badbald]

http://www.ijtrichology.com/article...ume=3;issue=2;spage=131;epage=131;aulast=Gude


Significant rate of hair loss may reflect impaired glycemic control.

Poor circulation affecting the production of new strands or filaments resulting in thinner and sparsely located hairs, effects of antidiabetic drugs, physiological and psychological stress and anxiety, dehydration etc are some of the factors that are responsible for increasing hair loss in diabetics.

A French study on 6,00,000 people apparently unaware of the fact that they are suffering from type 2 diabetes showed that they had diffuse hair loss. [1]


A study showed that diabetic female children had smaller bulb diameters and diabetics of both sexes had reduced shaft diameters compared to normal children. [3] Darker eyebrows with graying scalp hair in males may also point to diabetes.

Diabetics are known to have elevated hair K, Na, Hg and decreased Ca, Mg, Zn. [4] Glucose intolerance is also known to perturb Cr metabolism. Hair arsenic has shown a bearing over glycemic control in pregnant subjects. [5]

This is interesting, that is a huge spread of people for the study, with that amount of subjects being so high, a strong correlation can be drawn only a fool would dismiss this.

The question is , is it simply people who are genetically preconditioned to getting diabetes get hair loss as another genetic difference as apposed to eating your way into diabetes. This would explain how changing your diet and exercise does not effect the hair loss

 

[Feelsbadman.jpg]

all blonde men are white doesnt mean all white men are blonde.

That's actually a false statement. Natives of the Solomon islands have blond hair in about 5-10% of population.

But to use your analogy,

Blond hair is caused by gene 'x'.
If you have blond(ish) hair, then gene 'x' is being expessed to some degree.

Your logic statement is trying to state that diffuse thinning has more than 1 cause. Everyone here can understand that. The research, in animals not just humans, strongly indicates that insulin resistance and sensitivity have a direct correlation to to hair density, so much so that it may be the only factor that really matters.

 

[stressftw]

That doesnt exclude male pattern baldnes, its a good find but objectively pointless regards male pattern baldness

or do you think every male in the earth who suffers from diffuse thinning does have diabetes?

Diffuse hair loss to some degree can have a correlation with diabetes, so thyroid problems, so stress, so many other factors.

 

[Otis Mack]

There are many factors that can make Androgenetic Alopecia worse as any negative contributor to hair loss is just going to worsen how bad Androgenetic Alopecia seems.

This is NOT a study saying diabetes causes Androgenetic Alopecia or anything like that. It is what it is. Diabetes is not a healthy environment for hair growth and JUST correcting some androgen problem on the scalp may not work as well as anticipated if diabetes is present.

There are other factors which can cause hair loss so just thinking the hair loss world revolves around androgens is not prudent.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23629119


The contribution of endogenous and exogenous factors to male alopecia: a study of identical twins.
Gatherwright J1, Liu MT, Amirlak B, Gliniak C, Totonchi A, Guyuron B.
Author information
1
Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44124, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential contribution of environmental factors and testosterone on male alopecia.

METHODS:
Ninety-two identical male twins were recruited from 2009 to 2011. A comprehensive questionnaire was completed followed by the acquisition of sputum samples for testosterone analysis and standardized digital photography. Frontal, temporal, and vertex hair loss was assessed from these photographs. Hair loss was then correlated with survey responses and testosterone levels between twin pairs. Two independent, blinded observers also rated the photographs for hair thinning.

RESULTS:
Increased smoking duration (p < 0.001) and the presence of dandruff (p = 0.028) were significantly associated with increased frontal hair loss.


Increased exercise duration (p = 0.002), consumption of more than four alcoholic drinks per week (p = 0.042), and increased money spent on hair loss products (p = 0.050) were all associated with increased temporal hair loss.

Daily hat use (p = 0.050), higher body mass index (p = 0.012), and higher testosterone levels (p = 0.040) were associated with decreased temporal hair loss.


Factors that were significantly associated with increased vertex hair loss included abstinence from alcohol consumption (p = 0.030),

consumption of more than four alcoholic drinks per week (p = 0.004),

increased smoking duration (p = 0.047),

increased exercise duration (p = 0.050), and increased stress duration (p = 0.010).

Lower body mass index, more children, increased caffeine consumption, history of skin disease, and abstinence from alcohol were significantly associated with increased hair thinning scores (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:
This study offers substantial evidence that exogenous factors may have a clinically significant impact on hair loss.

 

[Naja]

Nah. My dad went bald starting at like 20 and I inherited it from him. We are both otherwise completely healthy with no diabetes. Hes like 70 something now.

I appreciate the effort from the OP to find these answers though.

(Also, abstinence from alcohol is not a thing that either of us has done.)

 

[Isneezedsohard]

I think balding may be an indication of some possible underlying issues, but I don't know about diabetes. I haven't seen any articles other than this one relating alopecia to blood sugar and insulin.